All Black lock Isaac Ross not available for Crusaders v Sharks
Isaac Ross in photo from Scrum.com
The Crusaders have been dealt a blow ahead of their Super 14 encounter with the Sharks on Friday, with All Blacks lock Isaac Ross laid low by an ankle injury.
The setback occurred in training on Monday, according to New Zealand press reports, with Tasman’s Joe Wheeler summoned to the squad as a result.
The team will be announced on Wednesday, amidst speculation that ace fetcher Richie McCaw will start his season off the bench against the South Africans after being given a couple of weeks off at the start of the competition – without him, the fancied Crusaders were humbled by the Reds in Brisbane last weekend.
There may be some quiet relief over the Ross news in the visiting camp ahead of the vital outing, with both sides coming off losses and the Sharks yet to open their account in 2010.
The Sharks have some lock problems of their own after injuries to newly signed Gerhard Mostert and a neck injury to Springbok Johann Muller. Mostert will not take part any further in the 2010 Super14 competition.
Their specialist locks on the five-match overseas leg are Steven Sykes, Muller and Emerging Springbok Wilhelm Steenkamp, loaned to them a few days ago from the Bulls.
The Bulls’ generosity raised some eyebrows but there appeared to be method to the apparent madness when Flip van der Merwe excelled in a start alongside Victor Matfield against the Brumbies at Loftus on Saturday – the champions won 50-32 – while versatile Danie Rossouw is fit again after a neck spasm and Bakkies Botha ought to return from his own layoff soon. The Bulls suddenly appear to have more depth in this department.
[Info from Story by Rob Houwing on Sport24]
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